
VIENNA, FEB 29: Initial reaction at home and abroad appeared lukewarm to the surprise resignation of Austrian populist Joerg Haider as head of his far-right Freedom Party (fpoe).
The US state department said it would continue to “watch closely” the coalition government in Vienna that includes members of the anti-immigration party.
Some local politician dismissed Haider’s decision to step down yesterday as a strategic retreat before a possible future push for the chancellorship.
Social Democrats (SPOE) said that Haider and the party were inseparable and called on Haider to leave politics altogether. Designated Spoe leader Alfred Gusenbauer described the resignation as one of Haider’s “many ruses”.
European nations and other countries froze political contacts with Austria when the party entered government earlier this month, an event that has triggered daily demonstrations.


